| Accomplishment | Explorer |
| Credited with discovering the 'New World' of the Americas | |
| Discovered the sea route to India | |
| Initiated the first successful attempt to circumnavigate the Earth | |
| The first Englishman to sail around the world and live to tell about it | |
| The continents of North and South America derive their name from this man | |
| Explored Florida looking for the fountain of youth | |
| Discovered Newfoundland and claimed it for England | |
| Discovered the Grand Canyon while trying to find the 7 cities of gold | |
| Discovered and claimed Canada for France | |
| The first European to discover the Mississippi River | |
| Spanish conquistador who initiated the conquest of the Aztec Empire | |
| Danish navigator who claimed Alaska for Russia | |
| Explored much of northeastern North America - died when his crew mutinied | |
| Recorded the first circumnavigation of New Zealand | |